I’ve been developing a theory called Essential Commons as a field for negotiation of what James Quilligan calls “…our mutual commons – the dynamic interrelationship of human subjectivity and material substance,” (Kosmos Journal. Spring/Summer, 2013).

As policies and practices are beginning to better account for the commonality of our materiality, it’s critical that we consciously evolve our understanding of the intangible drivers of our subjectivity. Essential commons is a domain for accessing fundamentals of unity between self and all else through inquiry into the axiology (values), metaphysics (causality), and ontology (nature of being) of the transformative impulse toward commons consciousness.

Essential commons holds integral space for the very essence of our individual and collective commons concerns. In the spirit of statistician George Box who said, “all models are wrong, some are useful,” the essential commons can be broken down into civil commons, spiritual commons and universal commons.

As the domain where subjectivities come together, civic space is where we create who we have to be to do what we want to do. Civil commons is the ground for establishing every sentient being as a noble seed. It’s a domain of inquiry into the personal and communal “soil” (programs, economics, policy, law, resource management, opportunity, nourishment, connectivity…) required for all seeds to thrive.

Spiritual commons makes sacred space in the commons conversation as a domain of inquiry into the life-force that is unique in each of us and common to all. It is a clearing for inter- and trans-denominational dialog, visionary impulses, wisdom traditions, humanism, metaphysics, spiritual insight and renewal, vibes, and mojo. Spiritual commons is a domain for syncing up our inner GPS’s toward negotiating all of our commons in Golden Rule compliance.

Scientists agree that we only know about 5% of reality and that about 95% of what’s so in the universe is a common frontier. As we continue to unravel the majority mystery we’re part of, the universal commons is a domain for inquiry into what’s beyond our understandings of individuality and commonality. It is a realm for exploring correlation between consciousness, energy, matter, volition, provision, behavior, evolution and the as-yet-to-be-discovered.

Sustainable progress with common resources requires progressing our consciousness of the underlying essentials of the interrelationships of commonality. As we re-negotiate our relationships with shared resources, the essential commons model is a tool for conscious evolution that offers access to our invisible commonality and our deepest resourcefulness.

I’ve done a lot of radio over many years but have never had a host who was literally raging from the political Far Right. Still, we agreed it’s time for transformation – not just the left or the right of the same old box. A new box – a new paradigm.

This quote provides often-overlooked context for whatever you’re working on:

“Everything that has ever happened in the history of the universe is the prelude to each of our lives. Everything that has happened from the beginning of time has become the platform from which we launch our lives.

We are the heirs of the long evolution of Spirit. Each of us is the latest unfolding of the event of Creation. Our bodies are composed of the material that was shaped in the Big Bang. And so, too, our spirits. The loving goodness of the universe breathes us and breathes through us, giving us life and consciousness, and the capacity to recognize and love others.”

Excellent take on the international paradigmatic shift by the Senior Adviser on Cultural Matters, Office of the Secretary General, EU External Service. Examined similar distinctions in my doctoral dissertation, Noble Seed/Royal Soil: the care and feeding of the royal person in 21st Century America

“In the time of your life, live – so that in good time there shall be no ugliness or death for yourself or for any life your life touches. Seek goodness everywhere, and when it is found, bring it out of its hiding-place and let it be free and unashamed. Place in matter and in flesh the least of the values, for these are things that hold death and must pass away.

Discover in all things that which shines and is beyond corruption. Encourage virtue in whatever heart it may have been driven into secrecy and sorrow by the shame and terror of the world. Ignore the obvious, for it is unworthy of the clear eye and the kindly heart. Be the inferior of no man, nor of any man be the superior. Remember that every man is a variation of yourself. No man’s guilt is not yours, nor is any man’s innocence a thing apart. Despise evil and ungodliness, but not men of ungodliness or evil. These, understand. Have no shame in being kindly and gentle… and have no regret. In the time of your life, live – so that in that wondrous time you shall not add to the misery and sorrow of the world, but shall smile to the infinite delight and mystery of it.”

Make sure that you screen for the best match between your organization and the gazillion executive coaching companies in the marketplace.

Make sure you’re discerning between great marketing and truly transformational coaching.

Make sure the executive coaching consultant is relying on metrics that matter. If s/he isn’t measuring culture and consciousness development along with tangible achievements, you aren’t getting an accurate picture of your executive coaching results. And, if they aren’t measuring those things, you’re not likely progressing adequately in those domains and that’s a waste of executive coaching fees.

Make sure you have plenty of soak time for integrating the takeaways from executive leadership development.

Make sure that either personal executive consulting or executive leadership programs are addressing the yin and the yang of executive leadership development, i.e. the hard and the soft data, core competencies and culture, as well as the continuum between bottom line financial health and contribution to greater good.

Just like Executives and Business Owners, Olympians use consultants to problem-solve. But unlike most business and civic leaders, Olympians invest in winning edge-focused coaching. Makes sense – top tier athletes don’t coach just to get over broken ankles, even if they’re recuperating from one. They coach for breakthroughs and transformation.

Likewise, top tier leaders don’t just coach to put out fires, they coach to sharpen and maintain their edge – to break through the status quo. I’ve recently shifted from calling my services “coaching” because “counsel” seems more appropriate. To me “counsel” embraces everything that coaches do but offers a greater depth of service.

Whether you’re squarely in the driver’s seat, changing vehicles, or ready for a radical sabbatical away from the steering wheel, good consulting can have a major impact on your effectiveness and efficiency for increasing:
profits, stakeholder loyalty, innovation, leadership and organizational capacity, excellence, vitality, work/life balance and team coherence.